What Food Allergy Treatments Are Best for Kids?
Watching your child experience a severe allergic reaction is something no parent ever forgets. As a board-certified food allergy specialist and a mom of children with food allergies, I understand this fear and the relief that comes with finding effective food allergy care. Today, there are more treatment options than ever to help children manage food allergies safely. Let’s look at some of the approaches we use at Safe2Bite | Texas Food Allergy Center in North Texas.
Best Ways to Treat a Child’s Food Allergy
While allergen avoidance is an important step when your child has symptoms, it isn’t the only way to manage a food allergy. The following approaches include emergency responses, long-term treatments and key lifestyle adjustments.
Single-Food Oral Immunotherapy for Desensitization
Many children with a food allergy are allergic to just one type, such as milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish or wheat. Oral immunotherapy (OIT) aims to desensitize the immune system to such an allergen by administering controlled doses under medical supervision. A child that is considered to be a good candidate for OIT treatment will receive small, manageable amounts of the problem food that are increased over time.
Multi-Food Oral Immunotherapy for Kids
Multi-food OIT follows the same approach but with multiple allergens. While OIT is not a cure, it can increase the amount of food needed to trigger a reaction, and thus reduce the risks involved in accidental allergen exposure. Multi-food OIT is especially useful for children with complex food allergy needs who face considerable risk from allergic reactions.
Sublingual Immunotherapy for Food Allergies
Sublingual immunotherapy (known as allergy drops or SLIT treatment), involves taking a daily dose of a solution containing the allergen that is placed under the tongue. As an at-home treatment approach, families can gain added convenience while building tolerance to the specific allergen. We welcome families to our food allergy treatment centers to identify if OIT or SLIT is best for your child’s food allergy.
Epinephrine for Severe Allergic Reactions
While severe food allergy reactions are relatively rare, it’s wise to be prepared just in case. Epinephrine is an emergency medication that must be carried at all times, and administered at the first sign of a severe reaction. The medication reverses any life-threatening symptoms within minutes. However, epinephrine does not offer any long-term treatment benefits like OIT or allergy drops.
Dietary Strategies for Food Allergy Care
Combined with the longer-term food allergy treatment options, simple dietary and lifestyle changes can help keep your child safe. You can start by checking food labels and avoiding items that list the allergenic food as an ingredient—even as a potential trace element—and replace these with a healthy alternative. Inform your child’s school and create an emergency action plan in case they experience symptoms. Avoidance and nutritional adjustments won’t change the immune response, but they’re an important part of the treatment plan.
Visit Us in North Texas for Pediatric Food Allergy Treatment
Safe2Bite helps families manage food allergies with dependable testing and treatment services. Visit one of our North Texas food allergy treatment centers for expert care from board-certified allergist, Dr. Mireku. Call (469) 916-5504 or request an appointment.
